Matendo 23
1 Paulo aliwakodolea macho wale wanabaraza, halafu akaanza kusema, “Ndugu zangu, mpaka hivi leo nimekuwa nikiishi na dhamiri njema mbele ya Mungu.”
And Paul, looking the sanhedrim in the face, said, Men, brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God unto this day.
2 Hapo Kuhani Mkuu Anania akaamuru wale waliokuwa wamesimama karibu na Paulo wampige kofi mdomoni.
And the high priest Ananias commanded those standing near him to smite him in the mouth.
3 Basi, Paulo akamwambia, “Mungu mwenyewe atakupiga kofi wewe uliye kama ukuta uliopakwa chokaa! Unawezaje kukaa hapo ili unihukumu kisheria na huku wewe mwenyewe unaivunja Sheria kwa kuamuru nipigwe?”
Then Paul said to him, God is about to smite thee, thou whitewashed wall: indeed thou art sitting judging me according to the law, and dost thou command me to be smitten contrary to the law?
4 Watu waliokuwa wamesimama pale wakamwambia Paulo, “Unamtukana Kuhani Mkuu wa Mungu!”
And those standing by said, Do you revile the high priest of God?
5 Paulo akajibu, “Ndugu zangu, sikujua kama yeye ni Kuhani Mkuu. Maana Maandiko yasema hivi: Usiseme vibaya juu ya mtawala wa watu wako.”
And Paul said, Brethren, I did not know that he is the high priest; for it is written, You shall not speak evil of the ruler of your people.
6 Wakati huo Paulo alikwisha tambua kwamba sehemu moja ya wanabaraza wale ilikuwa ni Masadukayo na nyingine Mafarisayo. Basi, alipaaza sauti yake mbele ya Baraza: “Ndugu zangu, mimi ni Mfarisayo, mwana wa Mfarisayo. Mimi nimeletwa mahakamani kwa kuwa ninatumaini kwamba wafu watafufuka.”
And Paul knowing that one part of them belongs to the Sadducees, and another to the Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men, brethren, I am a Pharisee, a son of the Pharisees: concerning the hope and the resurrection of the dead I am judged.
7 Baada ya kusema hivyo, mzozo mkali ulitokea kati ya Mafarisayo na Masadukayo na mkutano ukagawanyika sehemu mbili.
And he speaking this, there was a dissension of the Pharisees and Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.
8 Kisa chenyewe kilikuwa hiki: Masadukayo hushikilia kwamba wafu hawafufuki, hakuna malaika, na roho nazo hazipo. Lakini Mafarisayo husadiki hayo yote matatu.
For the Sadducees indeed say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.
9 Kelele ziliongezeka na baadhi ya walimu wa Sheria wa kikundi cha Mafarisayo walisimama na kutoa malalamiko yao kwa nguvu: “Hatuoni chochote kilicho kiovu katika mtu huyu; huenda ikawa kwamba roho au malaika ameongea naye.”
And there was a great clamor: and certain ones of the scribes on the part of the Pharisees, rising up, continued to strive, saying, We find nothing evil in this man: but has a spirit or an angel spoken to him?
10 Mzozo ulizidi kuwa mwingi hata mkuu wa jeshi akaogopa kwamba Paulo angeraruliwa vipandevipande. Kwa hiyo, aliwaamuru askari wake kuingia kati ya lile kundi, wamtoe Paulo na kumrudisha ndani ya ngome.
And the dissension being great, the chiliarch fearing lest Paul may be torn to pieces by them, commanded the army, having gone down, to take him from their midst, and lead him into the castle.
11 Usiku uliofuata, Bwana alisimama karibu na Paulo, akamwambia, “Jipe moyo! Umenishuhudia katika Yerusalemu, utafanya vivyo hivyo mjini Roma.”
And on the following night, the Lord standing over him, said, Take courage: for as thou hast testified to the things concerning me in Jerusalem, so it behooveth thee also to testify to me in Rome.
12 Kulipokucha, Wayahudi walifanya kikao cha faragha. Wakala kiapo: “Hatutakula wala kunywa mpaka tutakapokuwa tumekwisha muua Paulo.”
And it being day, the Jews having formed a conspiracy, obligated themselves by an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they might kill Paul.
13 Watu zaidi ya arobaini ndio waliokula njama kufanya hivyo.
And there were more than forty having made this plot:
14 Basi, walikwenda kwa makuhani wakuu na wazee, wakasema, “Sisi tumeapa kwamba hatutaonja chochote kwa vinywa vyetu mpaka hapo tutakapokuwa tumemuua Paulo.
who, having come to the chief priests and elders, said, We have anathematized ourselves with an anathema, to taste nothing until we may kill Paul.
15 Sasa basi, ninyi pamoja na Baraza tumeni ujumbe kwa mkuu wa jeshi ili amlete Paulo kwenu mkijisingizia kwamba mnataka kupata habari kamili zaidi juu yake. Tuko tayari kumuua hata kabla hajafika karibu.”
Now therefore do you appeal to the chiliarch along with the sanhedrim, that he may lead him down to you, as about to investigate matters concerning him more thoroughly: and we are ready to kill him before he comes nigh.
16 Lakini mtoto wa kiume wa dada yake Paulo alisikia juu ya mpango huo; hivyo akaenda ndani ya ngome, akamjulisha Paulo juu ya njama hiyo.
And the son of Paul's sister, having heard of ambuscade, coming and entering into the castle, reported it to Paul.
17 Hapo Paulo akamwita mmoja wa askari, akamwambia, “Mchukue kijana huyu kwa mkuu wa jeshi; ana kitu cha kumwambia.”
And Paul, having called one of the centurions, said, Lead this young man to the chiliarch: for he has something to tell him.
18 Askari akamchukua huyo kijana, akamwongoza mpaka kwa mkuu wa jeshi, akasema, “Yule mfungwa Paulo ameniita akaniomba nimlete kijana huyu kwako kwa maana ana jambo la kukwambia.”
Then indeed taking him, he led him to the chiliarch, and says, Paul the prisoner, having called me, requested me to lead this young man to you, having something to tell you.
19 Mkuu wa jeshi alimshika huyo kijana mkono, akampeleka mahali pa faragha, akamwuliza, “Una nini cha kuniambia?”
And the chiliarch taking him by the hand, and having gone away privately, asked him, What is that which you have to tell me?
20 Yeye akasema, “Wayahudi wamepatana wakuombe umpeleke Paulo Barazani wakijisingizia kwamba Baraza lingependa kupata habari kamili zaidi juu yake.
And he said, The Jews have entered into an agreement to ask you that to-morrow you may lead Paul to the sanhedrim, as about to make inquiry as to something more definite concerning him.
21 Lakini wewe usikubali kwa maana kuna watu zaidi ya arobaini walio tayari kumvamia. Wameapa kutokula wala kunywa mpaka watakapokuwa wamemuua. Sasa wako tayari, wanangojea tu uamuzi wako.”
Therefore do not be persuaded by them: for more than forty of them lie in wait for him, who have obligated themselves by an oath, neither to eat nor drink until they may kill him: and now they are ready, awaiting the promise from you.
22 Mkuu wa jeshi alimwacha aende zake akimwonya asimwambie mtu yeyote kwamba amemletea habari hizo.
Then indeed the chiliarch sent away the young man, having commanded him to Tell no one that you have revealed these things to me.
23 Basi, mkuu wa jeshi aliwaita askari wawili akawaambia, “Wekeni tayari askari mia mbili, wapanda farasi sabini na askari mia mbili wa mikuki, waende Kaisarea; muwe tayari kuondoka kabla ya saa tatu leo usiku.
And having called a certain two of the centurions, he said, Get ready two hundred soldiers that they may go unto Caesarea, and seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen, from the third hour of the night;
24 Wekeni farasi kadhaa kwa ajili ya Paulo; mfikisheni salama kwa Felisi, mkuu wa mkoa.”
and prepare beasts of burden, that, having carried away Paul, you may deliver him safe to Felix the governor.
25 Halafu mkuu huyo wa jeshi akaandika barua hivi:
Writing a letter having this form:
26 “Mimi Klaudio Lusia ninakuandikia wewe Mheshimiwa Felisi, mkuu wa mkoa. Salamu!
Claudius Lysias to the most noble governor Felix, greeting.
27 “Wayahudi walimkamata mtu huyu na karibu wangemuua kama nisingalifahamishwa kwamba yeye ni raia wa Roma na hivyo nikaenda pamoja na askari nikamwokoa.
This man, having been taken by the Jews, and being about to be put to death by them, having interposed with my army, I took out of their hands, having learned that he is a Roman:
28 Nilimpeleka mbele ya Baraza lao kuu nikitaka kujua kisa cha mashtaka yao.
and wishing to know the cause on account of which they clamored against him, I led him into their sanhedrim:
29 Niligundua kwamba mashtaka yenyewe yalihusu ubishi juu ya sehemu kadha wa kadha za Sheria yao na hivyo sikuona kwamba amefanya chochote kinachostahili auawe au afungwe gerezani.
whom I found accused concerning questions of their law, having no charge worthy of death or bonds.
30 Nilipofahamishwa kwamba Wayahudi walikuwa wamefanya njama za kumuua, niliamua kumleta kwako. Nikamwambia washtaki wake walete mashtaka yao mbele yako.”
And a plot from them being revealed to me to be against the man, I sent him to thee, having commanded his accusers also to speak in thy presence.
31 Basi, hao askari walimchukua Paulo kama walivyoamriwa; wakampeleka usiku uleule mpaka Antipatri.
Then indeed the soldiers, according to that which had been commanded them, taking Paul led him by night to Antipatris:
32 Kesho yake askari wa miguu walirudi ngomeni, wakawaacha wale askari wapanda farasi waendelee na safari pamoja na Paulo.
And on the following day letting the cavalry go on with him, they returned to the castle.
33 Walipofika Kaisarea walimpa mkuu wa mkoa ile barua na kumweka Paulo chini ya mamlaka yake.
Who, having come into Caesarea, and delivered the letter to the governor, also committed Paul to him.
34 Felisi alipoisoma hiyo barua aliwauliza Paulo ametoka mkoa gani. Alipofahamishwa kwamba alikuwa ametoka mkoa wa Kilikia,
And having read, and made inquiry of what jurisdiction,
35 akasema, “Nitasikiliza kesi yako baada ya washtaki wako kufika.” Kisha akaamuru Paulo awekwe chini ya ulinzi ndani ya ukumbi wa Herode.
and ascertaining that he is from Cilicia, said, I will hear thee, when thy accusers may also be present, having commanded that he should be kept in Herod's judgment hall.
